London sugar lower

London white sugar futures closed slightly lower on Friday, knocked by trade selling in New York, dealers said. The December contract closed at $400.80 per tonne, down $4.20 from Thursday's close, after trading between $400.80 and $406.00.
March closed at $361.50, down $3.60, after trading between $361.30 and $366.00. Total volume across contracts was 5,933 lots. "There was quite a bit of trade and spec selling in New York. The decline was in New York was sharper than in London," a dealer said. Further along the curve, prices would be supported by the force majeure declaration from Dubai's al-Khaleej refinery, he said.
"Support for the March-May spread is related to the possibility of loss of production of refined sugar from Dubai," he said. The refinery declared force majeure on Thursday after a fire. Nigeria's sole sugar refinery plans to float 30 percent of its shares this month, its owners said on Friday.
COCOA ENDS LOWER: London cocoa futures closed slightly lower on Friday, but the market remained rangebound, dealers said. December ended 2 pounds lower at 830 pounds a tonne after trading between 828 and 842 pounds.
Total volume across contracts was 10,125 lots. Dealers noted the front month had been holding in a range of 807 to 862 pounds for more than two months with the market underpinned partly by the potential for unrest in war-divided top producer Ivory Coast.
Europe's physical cocoa market was generally quiet this week as industry was hoping London prices would fall as more West African cocoa was harvested, traders said on Friday. Ivory Coast cocoa farmers who have refused to sell their beans over the last month in protest at low prices are beginning to deal with buyers again, growers said on Friday, but some cocoa has been damaged in poor storage.
COFFEE SHARPLY UP: London robusta coffee futures closed sharply up on Friday after earlier rising to a two-month high boosted by fund and speculative buying, dealers said.
The key January contract finished $37 firmer at $1,585 a tonne after earlier setting a contract peak of $1,595. The day's high was also a two-month peak for the second month on a continuation basis. Total volume across contracts was 17,506 lots. "The funds were already heavily long and have been adding to their positions. There has not been any real change in the fundamental picture," one dealer said.